Latest News
2 November 2009 - Defence restructuring plan criticised
Plans to create a joint venture company to run defence procurement may not address the "core issues" causing time and cost overruns on defence schemes, a senior consultant has said.
30 October 2009 - Second Express Lift scheme launched
A second health trust has been given the go-ahead to build new community hospitals through the Express Lift framework.
30 October 2009 - Metronet contract back in public hands
The former Metronet PPP contracts to upgrade and operate nine Tube lines have been transferred to the public sector, Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, confirmed yesterday.
29 October 2009 - Govt begins search for new PFI prison sites
The Ministry of Justice has started the search for sites for the remaining three of five 1,500-place prisons it plans to build using PFI.
29 October 2009 - Scheme delays 'frustrating', says Lift boss
Delays in approving new health projects could see the public sector miss out on "massive" savings from lower construction costs, a leading Lift investor has warned.
28 October 2009 - Another waste project delayed by recession
Yorkshire’s waste PFI is the latest to be hit by the economic downturn, following well-publicised delays on other major waste schemes.
28 October 2009 - Take 'low-hanging fruit', Ringrose urges
The public finances could be restored to health far more quickly if the government increased its engagement with the private sector, Adrian Ringrose has said.
27 October 2009 - Ewer admits need to prove Croydon works
The pressure is on John Laing to prove that its flagship urban regeneration vehicle can deliver results in a depressed property market, the company's chief executive has said.
26 October 2009 - Tories put partnerships industry on notice
Partnerships projects must become more efficient and simpler, the shadow Construction Minister has said, in the latest Tory attack on PPP.
26 October 2009 - Council think-tank urges PFI reform
PFI credits should be abolished to give councils true freedom over capital investment, a think-tank has urged.
23 October 2009 - Prisons framework revealed
Seven contractors will compete for a place on a new framework to deliver five 1,500-place PFI prisons.
21 October 2009 - Pension funds could back hospital
The North Bristol NHS Trust is trying to get pension funds to back its £430m hospital scheme, in the first concrete sign institutional investors could return to PFI funding.
20 October 2009 - New £4bn academies framework announced
Fifteen companies have been appointed to the new £4bn academy schools framework.
20 October 2009 - Byles vows to tackle treacle
The head of the school-building agency has set out plans for the programme's survival in the new 'austerity' age, by removing duplicated programmes and making better use of existing council buildings.
19 October 2009 - Treasury rethink on competitive dialogue
The Treasury will look again at how competitive dialogue is being used on PPP projects, following mounting concern over the increased cost and time delays many believe it creates.
19 October 2009 - Ewer predicts 'cosmetic' Tory changes
Privately financed infrastructure will continue even under a Conservative government, despite Tory claims they would "do away with it", says the head of contractor John Laing.
19 October 2009 - Scots plan PFI replacement … again
A Scottish think-tank has devised an infrastructure financing model to replace PFI – which would see the private sector put up just 10% of funding.
15 October 2009 - Local Partnerships appoints new head
The government’s newly launched delivery agency Local Partnerships has appointed a chief executive.
15 October 2009 - PfS attacked over bonuses
The agency in charge of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) has been attacked for paying out bonuses worth £1.2m.
14 October 2009 - Lords open PFI inquiry
PFI performance over the last 15 years cannot be properly measured because of poor public sector data management, a PFI expert told a House of Lords committee yesterday.
